220-1201 Practice Test 1 — 25 Questions

Question 1

During a network cable installation, a technician needs to verify that a newly run Cat6 cable is properly terminated and free of shorts or opens. The cable is not yet connected to any switch or device. Which tool should the technician use?

Accepted Answer

Cable tester. A cable tester is specifically designed to verify proper termination and detect faults like shorts, opens, or miswires in copper Ethernet cables. Since the cable is not connected to any network device, a cable tester can independently validate the integrity of each wire pair by sending signals and checking continuity, which is exactly what this scenario requires.

Answer

Tone generator and probe

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Multimeter

Answer

Loopback plug

Question 2

A user connects a 4K monitor to their laptop using a USB-C port. The monitor is detected, but the resolution is stuck at 1920x1080. The laptop supports 4K output via USB-C. What is the most likely reason?

Accepted Answer

The USB-C cable does not support DisplayPort Alt Mode. The most likely reason is that the USB-C cable does not support DisplayPort Alt Mode. For a USB-C port to output a 4K video signal, the cable must be capable of carrying DisplayPort signals alongside USB data. If the cable is a standard USB 2.0 or 3.x cable without Alt Mode support, the system will fall back to a lower resolution like 1920×1080, even if the laptop and monitor both support 4K.

Answer

The monitor's HDMI port is defective

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The laptop's graphics driver is outdated

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The monitor's refresh rate is set too high

Question 3

A technician is troubleshooting a laptop that will not charge. The battery is removable, and the power adapter works on another laptop. When the battery is inserted, the laptop powers on but shows '0% available (plugged in, not charging)'. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The battery is defective and needs replacement.. The 'plugged in, not charging' message often indicates a failed battery that cannot accept a charge, even though the system detects it. A defective battery cell will prevent charging. The power adapter and charging circuit are likely fine since the laptop powers on.

Answer

The charging port is loose.

Answer

The power management driver is outdated.

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The CMOS battery is dead.

Question 4

A customer brings in a smartphone with a broken charging port. They want the port replaced. During disassembly, the technician finds that the charging port is soldered directly to the main board. Which tool is essential for this repair?

Accepted Answer

A soldering iron with a fine tip.. Option B is correct because the charging port is soldered directly to the main board, requiring a soldering iron with a fine tip to precisely heat and remove the existing solder joints and then re-solder the new port without damaging nearby components. A fine tip allows controlled heat application on small surface-mount pads, which is essential for this type of micro-soldering repair.

Answer

A heat gun with a narrow nozzle.

Answer

A Phillips-head screwdriver.

Answer

A plastic spudger.

Question 5

A user reports that their laptop's keyboard types random characters when certain keys are pressed. The laptop has not been dropped or spilled on. What is the most likely hardware issue?

Accepted Answer

The keyboard has an internal short or faulty controller.. Option C is correct because a keyboard with an internal short or faulty controller can cause erratic behavior like typing random characters when keys are pressed. This occurs because the short or controller failure disrupts the matrix scanning process, sending incorrect key codes to the system. Since the laptop was not dropped or spilled, physical damage like a loose ribbon cable is less likely, making an internal component failure the most probable hardware cause.

Answer

The keyboard driver is corrupted.

Answer

The keyboard ribbon cable is loose.

Answer

The operating system has a malware infection.

Question 6

A technician is troubleshooting a laptop that shuts down randomly after a few minutes of use. The fan is spinning, and the vents are clear. The CPU temperature reaches 95°C quickly. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The thermal paste between the CPU and heatsink has dried out.. High CPU temperature despite a spinning fan indicates poor thermal transfer, often due to dried-out thermal paste or a heatsink that is not making proper contact. Reapplying thermal paste and reseating the heatsink is the solution. The fan working rules out a fan failure.

Answer

The fan is running at low speed due to a faulty fan controller.

Answer

The CPU is faulty and needs replacement.

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The BIOS is set to an aggressive power-saving mode.

Question 7

A user reports that their laptop battery no longer charges and the system only runs when plugged in. You test the AC adapter and it outputs correct voltage. Inside the battery, which component is most likely failed?

Accepted Answer

The battery management system (BMS) is faulty.. The battery management system (BMS) is the circuit board inside the battery pack that controls charging, monitors cell voltage and temperature, and communicates with the laptop. Since the AC adapter outputs correct voltage and the laptop runs on AC power, the BMS is the most likely failed component because it can prevent charging even if the lithium-ion cells are healthy. A faulty BMS may stop communicating with the laptop's embedded controller, causing the system to treat the battery as absent or non-functional.

Answer

The lithium-ion cells have degraded.

Answer

The DC jack on the laptop is loose.

Answer

The laptop's motherboard charging circuit is damaged.

Question 8

You are deploying 50 tablets for a school and need to secure them in kiosk mode so students can only access a specific learning app. Which hardware servicing step is essential before configuring the software?

Accepted Answer

Charge each tablet to at least 50% and apply all system updates.. This question tests understanding of device preparation for deployment. Before any software configuration, you must ensure the device has a full charge and is updated to avoid interruptions. Kiosk mode is set via software after the device is ready.

Answer

Install a screen protector on each tablet.

Answer

Remove the SIM card from each tablet.

Answer

Replace the stock ROM with a custom firmware.

Question 9

A user complains that their smartphone's battery drains quickly even when idle. You run diagnostics and find the battery health is at 82%. The device is two years old. Which hardware servicing action is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Replace the battery with a new OEM battery.. This question tests battery replacement thresholds. A battery health below 80-85% often indicates significant degradation, causing poor runtime. Replacing the battery restores normal battery life. Software optimization may help but is secondary to hardware replacement.

Answer

Calibrate the battery by fully draining and recharging.

Answer

Update the operating system to the latest version.

Answer

Disable all background apps and notifications.

Question 10

A laptop's touchpad is not working correctly; the cursor jumps erratically. You have already updated the driver and checked for debris. What hardware component should you inspect or replace next?

Accepted Answer

Reseat the touchpad ribbon cable on the motherboard.. This question tests systematic troubleshooting of input devices. After ruling out software and debris, the next step is to check the touchpad's ribbon cable connection to the motherboard. A loose or damaged cable can cause erratic behavior. Replacing the touchpad itself is a later step.

Answer

Replace the entire keyboard assembly.

Answer

Replace the laptop's LCD screen.

Answer

Reinstall the operating system.

Question 11

A user brings in a smartphone with a cracked screen that is still responsive to touch. The device is an older model, and the user wants the screen replaced rather than buying a new phone. After powering off the device and removing the SIM and SD cards, what is the next step in the screen replacement process?

Accepted Answer

Apply heat to the edges of the screen to soften the adhesive.. Applying heat to the edges of the screen softens the adhesive that secures the display to the frame, which is a critical step before any prying action. On older smartphone models, the screen is typically bonded with a strong adhesive that can crack the glass further or damage the LCD if pried without softening. This step reduces the risk of breaking the digitizer or LCD during removal.

Answer

Use a spudger to pry the screen off starting from the bottom.

Answer

Remove the battery using a plastic pry tool.

Answer

Insert a guitar pick under the screen to separate it from the frame.

Question 12

A customer complains that their laptop battery no longer holds a charge and the laptop only works when plugged in. The technician confirms the battery is removable. What is the most appropriate first step in servicing this issue?

Accepted Answer

Power off the laptop and remove the battery.. The correct first step is to power off the laptop and remove the battery. This ensures safety and prevents electrical shorts or damage during replacement. After removal, the technician can install a new battery.

Answer

Update the battery driver in Device Manager.

Answer

Run a battery calibration utility from the manufacturer.

Answer

Replace the AC adapter to see if the charging circuit is faulty.

Question 13

During a laptop keyboard replacement, a technician accidentally dislodges a small ribbon cable from the touchpad connector. The touchpad is now unresponsive. The technician has never worked on this model before. What is the best course of action to resolve the issue?

Accepted Answer

Consult the service manual to identify the correct connector and reseat the cable.. Option C is correct because the most logical and safe first step when dealing with an unfamiliar laptop model is to consult the service manual. This ensures the technician identifies the exact connector for the touchpad ribbon cable, preventing damage from forcing the cable into the wrong port. Reseating the cable correctly is the standard fix for a dislodged connection.

Answer

Use tweezers to gently push the ribbon cable into any nearby empty connector.

Answer

Reboot the laptop to see if the touchpad driver reloads.

Answer

Replace the entire keyboard assembly since the touchpad cable is likely broken.

Question 14

A customer reports that after a recent fall, their smartphone's screen is completely black, but the device still vibrates when calls come in. The technician suspects the display cable is loose. What is the correct sequence of steps to access and reseat the display cable?

Accepted Answer

Remove the back cover, disconnect the battery, then reseat the display cable.. To access the display cable, the technician must first remove the back cover, then the battery (if not integrated), and disconnect the display cable from the motherboard. This sequence ensures safe access without risking a short circuit from a live battery. The display cable is typically a thin ribbon cable near the motherboard.

Answer

Remove the battery first, then the back cover, and reseat the display cable.

Answer

Reseat the display cable by inserting a spudger through the charging port.

Answer

Perform a factory reset to rule out software issues.

Question 15

A technician is servicing a tablet that will not power on. The technician has confirmed the battery is charged by testing it with a multimeter (voltage within spec). The power button feels normal when pressed. What is the most likely hardware component that has failed, and how should it be addressed?

Accepted Answer

Reseat or replace the power button flex cable.. The power button flex cable is the most likely failed component because the battery is confirmed good (voltage within spec) and the power button itself feels normal, indicating the button mechanism is intact but the electrical connection to the motherboard is broken. Reseating or replacing the flex cable restores the circuit that signals the power management IC to initiate boot, which is a common failure point in tablets due to flex cable wear or loose connection.

Answer

Replace the LCD screen assembly.

Answer

Replace the motherboard.

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Perform a hard reset by holding the power and volume buttons for 30 seconds.

Question 16

A customer reports that their new Bluetooth headphones pair with their smartphone but produce no audio during calls. The headphones work fine with other devices. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The smartphone does not support the required Bluetooth profile for call audio.. The most likely cause is that the smartphone does not support the Hands-Free Profile (HFP) or Headset Profile (HSP) required for bidirectional call audio over Bluetooth. While the headphones may pair and work for media audio using A2DP, these profiles are distinct and must be supported by both devices for voice calls. Since the headphones work with other devices, the issue is specific to the smartphone's Bluetooth profile support.

Answer

The headphones are out of battery.

Answer

The smartphone's Bluetooth antenna is damaged.

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The headphones are paired to too many devices simultaneously.

Question 17

A technician is configuring a tablet for field workers who need to transfer large files to a central server. The tablet has a USB-C port. Which connection method provides the fastest data transfer speed?

Accepted Answer

USB 3.1 Gen 2 over USB-C. USB 3.1 Gen 2 over USB-C supports a maximum signaling rate of 10 Gbps, which is significantly faster than any wireless or NFC option. For transferring large files to a central server, this wired connection provides the highest throughput and lowest latency, making it the optimal choice for the scenario.

Answer

Bluetooth 5.0

Answer

Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)

Answer

NFC

Question 18

A technician is setting up a mobile point-of-sale system using a tablet and a portable receipt printer. The printer supports both Bluetooth and NFC. Which connection method should the technician use for reliable, low-latency printing?

Accepted Answer

Bluetooth. Bluetooth is the correct choice because it provides a reliable, low-latency wireless connection specifically designed for peripheral devices like printers. Unlike NFC, which is optimized for very short-range (under 4 cm) tap-to-pair operations and not sustained data streaming, Bluetooth maintains a stable link over distances up to 10 meters and supports the Serial Port Profile (SPP) or Bluetooth Basic Rate/Enhanced Data Rate (BR/EDR) for consistent print job throughput.

Answer

NFC

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Infrared

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Wi-Fi Direct

Question 19

A technician is configuring a mobile hotspot on a smartphone to provide internet access to a laptop. The laptop connects to the hotspot's Wi-Fi network but cannot access the internet. The smartphone has a cellular data connection. Which of the following should the technician check first?

Accepted Answer

The smartphone's mobile data is enabled. Mobile hotspots require cellular data to be enabled; if data is off, the hotspot broadcasts a Wi-Fi signal but no internet passes through. This tests basic troubleshooting of hotspot functionality and the dependency on cellular data.

Answer

The laptop's IP address configuration

Answer

The laptop's firewall settings

Answer

The smartphone's Wi-Fi is turned on

Question 20

A technician is troubleshooting a smartphone that cannot establish an NFC connection with a payment terminal. The phone's NFC is enabled, and the screen is unlocked. The payment terminal shows 'No card detected'. Which of the following should the technician check first?

Accepted Answer

The phone's NFC antenna location and alignment with the terminal. NFC requires close proximity and correct orientation; many phones have the NFC antenna located near the top or back. This tests practical knowledge of NFC hardware placement and the need for precise alignment.

Answer

The phone's battery level

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The payment terminal's internet connection

Answer

The phone's default payment app settings